A dramatic two-goal blast in the final two minutes earned St Colman's College, Fermoy, a hard-earned victory over a plucky Dublin Colleges side in an entertaining All-Ireland Colleges senior hurling A semi-final at Clonmel yesterday. The Dublin students had looked set for a famous victory when substitute Jerome Twomey flicked home a great goal with 10 minutes left. The Leinster champions still held a one-point advantage with one minute left when St Colman's corner forward Paul Kearney got in for the first goal after a defensive lapse, and then classy Limerick minor star, Andrew O'Shaughnessy, killed off Dublin hopes with an excellent goal in injury time.
The final score did not do justice to the Dublin students, who gave as good as they got for the 60 minutes. Powered by the excellent midfield partnership of Stephen Hiney and Conal Keaney, they enjoyed a great deal of possession throughout. However, on a wet, miserable day for hurling, scores were always going to be hard to come by and the two late goals were to prove decisive. St Colman's, who last won the All-Ireland title in 1997, now go on to meet Gort Community School in this year's decider in early May.
Dublin Colleges, playing with a stiff breeze and driving rain at their backs, began brightly, but it was St Colman's sharpshooter Andrew O'Shaughnessy who pointed after three minutes. The Cork school doubled their advantage when captain Brian Carey pointed from play. However, the Leinster champions were level by the 16th minute thanks to points from Sean Quinn and Keaney.
St Colman's, inspired in defence by Richard and Brian Murphy and wing back Aidan Kearney, quickly got on top and further points from O'Shaughnessy and Paul Kearney helped them into a 0-4 to 02 lead. Back came Dublin Colleges before the interval and two points from Hiney and Stephen Fee saw them change over level at the interval.
Dublin Colleges went in front when captain Keaney pointed superbly into the wind. A pointed free from O'Shaughnessy brought St Colman's level.
It may not have been a classic game but both sides deserve great credit for serving up such an entertaining contest in dreadful conditions. Substitute Jerome Twomey was only on the field a matter of seconds when he got his stick to a long-range free from Hiney to put Dublin Colleges ahead for the first time in the game. A pointed free from Des Fitzgerald left just a point between the teams but then St Colman's struck for their two-goal blast.
It was hard on the Dublin side, who had looked set fair to advance to this year's All-Ireland decider.
ST COLMAN'S, FERMOY: D Fitzgerald; M Fitzgerald, R Murphy, B Murphy; R Relihan, T Healy, A Kearney; M O'Brien, D Fitzgerald (0-2, 1f); S Kearney, B Carey (0-1), S Stack; A O'Shaughnessy (1-3, 2f), J Mulchinock, P Kearney (1-1). Sub: B Lane for Mulchinock (53 mins)
DUBLIN COLLEGES: M O hOgain; C O'Brien, I Franzoni, P Brennan; P Keegan, S Daly, D O'Reilly; S Hiney (0-1), C Keaney (0- 2); S Quinn (0-1), G Keogh, A Glennon; D O'Callaghan, S Fee (0-1), D Baker. Sub: P Griffin for Glennon (36 mins), J Twomey (1-0) for Baker (50 mins).
Referee: M O Boidcin (Galway)
VS/Hurling
